AB1574 DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF CAPILLAROSCOPIES PERFORMED IN THE RHEUMATOLOGY SERVICE OF A THIRD LEVEL HOSPITAL
Authors: R. J. Gil Velez, L. Robles Kirkegard, L. Mendez Diaz
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Capillaroscopy is a study technique using direct in vivo images of the skin microcirculation. It constitutes an accessible and non-invasive method to analyze microvascular abnormalities in patients with rheumatic diseases. Its usefulness has been demonstrated in diseases such as Systemic Sclerosis (ES), Sjögren's syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dermatomyositis, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and, above all, Raynaud's phenomenon. <h3>Objectives</h3> To describe the clinical characteristics of a cohort of patients who underwent capillaroscopy in the Rheumatology service during the year 2022. <h3>Methods</h3> -Retrospective descriptive study of 100 patients who underwent capillaroscopy in the rheumatology service. The data obtained were obtained by reviewing the digital medical records and the registry of capillaroscopy images of the same service. <h3>Results</h3> 100 patients were included, of whom 92 were women (92%) and 8 were men (8%) with a mean age of 50 +/-17 years. Of the patients analyzed, 53 presented a normal pattern on capillaroscopy (53%) and 47 presented an abnormal pattern (47%). Of our cohort, 68 patients had Raynaud's (68%), 5 patients were diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (5%), limited scleroderma 12 patients (12%), diffuse scleroderma 6 patients (6%), and with psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjögren's, Rheumatoid Arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, Bechet and Dermatomyositis, there was a patient with each named disease (7%), and finally there were 2 patients who still do not have a firm diagnosis (2%). Of the patients in our cohort with an abnormal pattern, 12 had an early scleroderma pattern (25.5%), 10 patients had a late scleroderma pattern (21.25%), 8 patients had a lupus pattern (17%), 8 patients had a nonspecific pattern (17%), 6 presented a school of fish pattern (12.75%) and 3 patients presented a pattern of mixed connective tissue disease (6.3%). Within the cohort with a pattern of early scleroderma on capillaroscopy, 4 patients were diagnosed with limited scleroderma, 5 with Raynaud's phenomenon, 1 with diffuse scleroderma, 1 with undifferentiated connective tissue disease, and 1 patient had no diagnosis. With a late-onset scleroderma pattern, there were 2 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon, 4 with diffuse scleroderma, and 4 with limited scleroderma. With a school of fish pattern, there were 3 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon, 1 with diffuse scleroderma, 1 with undifferentiated connective tissue disease, and one with Sjögren's. Of the 100 patients analyzed, 7 had lung involvement (7%), presenting late scleroderma pattern in capillaroscopy (3 patients), diffuse scleroderma pattern 1 patient, 1 patient in school of fish, early scleroderma pattern 1 patient and no alteration in capillaroscopy 1 patient. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The data obtained are consistent with what is reported in the medical literature. The most common abnormal capillaroscopy pattern in our environment is early scleroderma, followed by late scleroderma. Of the patients analyzed, 7 had pulmonary involvement. With the data we have collected, we can conclude that capillaroscopy is a useful, non-invasive technique that can guide us during the diagnostic process in those patients who raise doubts both in clinical judgment and in the evolution of the disease. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> NIL. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.